The Don Who Betrayed Me With My Sister

My sister came back after being kidnapped. She had no memory of what had happened. She saw the photos on my wall and became convinced that my boyfriend, Don Colton Turner, was hers. She hid under our bed. When Colton and I started getting intimate, she crawled out and accused us of cheating on her. She pulled out a grenade and screamed, "You've betrayed me! Neither of you is walking out of here!" Just as she was about to pull the pin, my mother lunged at her, grabbed the grenade, and threw it out the window. But Beth wasn't done. She pressed a gun to her temple and threatened to kill herself. In her mind, she was Colton's Donna, while I was his secret lover. My mother rushed forward to grab the gun just as Beth pulled the trigger. My mother died on the spot. After that, Beth tried to kill herself almost every day. Colton eventually packed his bags and said wearily, "We should have slept in separate rooms. If we had, your mother would still be here. I'll take her to the house outside the city for now. Once she's stable, I'll move back. That way, she can't hurt you again." I simply nodded. Part of me was even grateful that Colton had thought everything through so carefully. Then one day, I went to a private hospital for a prenatal checkup. As I walked out with the report in my hand, I froze. My supposedly dead mother was standing there, gently stroking Beth's hair. "A healthy baby. When it's born, it'll look just like Colton." Colton laughed. "Better if it looks like Beth." My mother nodded, satisfied. "At least all that acting wasn't for nothing. Once the baby is here, I can stop worrying." The blood drained from my face as my heart pounded against my ribs. So it had all been a lie. After they left, I forced myself to calm down, walked back into the hospital, and scheduled an abortion. Chapter 1 They scheduled the procedure for that afternoon. I was two months pregnant, and the baby was perfectly healthy. Dr. Peter Warren frowned at me. "Dr. Vance, are you sure about this? It wasn't easy for you to get pregnant. Don't you want some time to think about it?" I said nothing. My chest felt so tight I could barely breathe. He was right. Getting pregnant hadn't been easy. Years ago, I'd gotten pregnant during a war between the family and its enemies. While we were escaping, I fell and lost the baby. After that, I couldn't get pregnant again. I tried everything. Nothing worked. Then, two months ago, I got pregnant when I least expected it. I still remembered the joy I felt when I saw the test result. My eyes drifted toward the hallway. Colton was there, supporting Beth with one hand while holding a glass of water to her lips with the other. "When the baby comes, I'll give him the family crest," he told her gently. "Don't worry. I'll give him everything." His face was full of warmth and tenderness. I slowly let out the breath I'd been holding and turned back to Peter. "I've decided. Go ahead with the procedure." Peter finally gave in and scheduled me for surgery. As I waited, my heart pounded against my ribs. My fingers tightened around the ultrasound image, and my lips went pale. I'd once stood in this very hospital holding an ultrasound image just like this one, imagining my child's future. I never thought that future would end so soon. Even my own mother had helped them deceive me. But maybe I shouldn't have been surprised. I looked more like my father than anyone else did. He was a cheating gambler who used to beat my mother, and she had always hated him. Beth, on the other hand, was practically her twin. Mom had favored her since we were children. Of course she would choose Beth now. She probably hadn't even hesitated. Before Colton and Beth could leave the hospital, my phone rang. It was Colton. "Darling, I have to go to the office tonight to handle something for the family. I won't be back at the estate. Get some rest." "Fine," I replied coldly. Through the window, I watched him help Beth down the hospital steps. Her pregnancy was already showing. When she struggled to get down the steps, Colton crouched, swept her into his arms, and carried her. He'd carried me like that once. I'd sprained my ankle, and he'd laughed as he picked me up, promising that from then on, he'd carry me whenever my feet hurt. I'd kissed him on the cheek, certain I was the luckiest woman alive. It had never occurred to me that those arms might hold someone else the same way. I couldn't tear my eyes away from them. Then, as if he sensed me watching, Colton looked over. Our eyes met across the crowd. His entire body stiffened. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Beth pouted. "What is it? Come on." Colton mumbled something, tore his gaze away from me, and smiled warmly at her. By the time he looked back, I was gone. I had already walked into the operating room. Before I lay down on the table, I turned off my phone. The pain left me trembling, but all I could think about was Colton. I didn't know how much time had passed when I finally woke up. Outside, the sky was already growing dark. I turned my phone back on. The screen showed 12 missed calls. Every single one was from Colton. I didn't call back. Instead, I booked a ride and went home alone. The moment I opened the front door, I froze. Colton, who was supposed to be at the office, was waiting for me in the living room. His brows drew together, and panic flashed across his face when he saw me. "Where have you been? Why are you getting home so late? Our wedding is next month. What are you doing running around?" I met his eyes without a trace of emotion. "I just came from the hospital." Chapter 2 "Why didn't you tell me you were going to the hospital?! I'm busy enough as it is. Can you stop causing trouble for me?!" Colton raised his voice as he strode toward me. He didn't even ask why I'd gone. He only cared that I hadn't told him. And what would have happened if I had? Would he have stayed away just to make sure I never discovered the truth? Since when did going to the hospital count as causing trouble? A bitter laugh escaped me, even as my heart ached. After a long moment, I asked, "Why aren't you asking what I went there for?" "What's there to ask? Your mother is gone. You've been miserable every day. It's perfectly normal to see a doctor and talk things through." He spoke casually as he sat down on the couch. He picked up his glass, but I saw his wrist tremble slightly. I stared at him and asked calmly, "If it's so normal, why are you so nervous about me going there? Is there something you're hiding from me?" My throat went dry as memories of that afternoon flooded back. Colton and I had been together for eight years. He'd taken a bullet for me. I'd laundered money for him. I'd stood beside him as he went from a nobody to the Don of the Turner family. He had promised that once everything settled down, he'd finally give me the wedding I deserved. I trusted him completely. I thought all we had was each other. Even when he moved out to stay with Beth, I convinced myself he was doing it to protect me. Not once did I question him. I wondered how much longer he would have kept lying to me if I hadn't seen the truth with my own eyes. Colton paused, then deliberately relaxed his shoulders and took a sip of his drink. "What could I be hiding from you? I've just been exhausted lately. "Beth is recovering slowly. When she's fully better, I'll come back. "Don't overthink it." The calmer he acted, the colder my heart became. "How many months?" I asked. Colton stared at me. A heavy silence fell between us. Then he stood and reached for his coat. "Stop imagining things. If you don't feel well, call my assistant and have her take you to the hospital. When Beth is completely better, I'll come back." At the door, he stopped and glanced back at me. "And handle the wedding however you want. Tell me if you need more money." Then he was gone. Silence swallowed the enormous estate. The strength drained from my body, and I sank onto the couch. The wind howled outside that night, and somehow, I felt the cold all the way to my bones. I pulled out my phone, booked a flight to Boston, and accepted an offer to become the lead researcher on a medical team there. Before Colton, medical research had been my entire life. I'd dreamed of becoming one of the best specialists in my field. But I gave it all up for him and his family. I stayed by his side through every crisis, never knowing if either of us would survive the next day. I'd planned to return to medicine after our wedding. Now, there was no reason to wait. Once everything was settled, I deleted all my wedding plans from my phone. Then I messaged the priest at the church. "The wedding is off. You don't need to send over the marriage license." The priest replied almost immediately. "Dr. Vance, are you sure? The wedding is almost here. If you cancel now, all your planning will go to waste." I answered without hesitation. "I'm sure." A year ago, when Colton and I decided to get married, he'd left every detail to me. The dress. The venue. The rings. I handled it all. Colton, meanwhile, devoted all his time and energy to Beth. Back then, he'd taken my hand and said gently, "We have to handle this together right now. We'll get through it." His words had touched me. So I spent an entire year planning our wedding alone. Not once did he ask how it was going. Now, I'd canceled it. And unless I told him, he probably wouldn't even notice. Chapter 3 Colton didn't come home for the next two days. I put my assets in order and went to the family's business office to hand over several contracts. When I returned to the estate to pack, I suddenly felt dizzy. The doctor had warned me this might happen. My body was still weak from the abortion. After running around all day, I broke out in a sweat. I grabbed the table to keep from collapsing. That was when Colton finally came home. He walked in carrying a box of chocolates and a bouquet of roses. Then he sank onto the couch and rubbed his forehead. "I got you your favorite chocolates and roses." When I didn't answer, he finally noticed how pale I was. He hurried over and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "What's wrong? Is your head hurting again?" I couldn't answer. A sharp cramp tore through my lower abdomen, leaving me unable to speak. He helped me onto the couch, then took off his watch. I recognized it immediately. Beth had given it to him for his last birthday. I clutched my stomach and waited for the pain to pass. By the time it finally eased, my forehead was covered in sweat. Only then did I notice the roses and chocolates on the table. I frowned. Colton asked, "Do you want some chocolate? I got you the roses you love. I'll put them in your room in a minute. Looking at the flowers will make you feel better, and you'll get some sleep tonight." I looked at him. "I'm allergic to pollen." When I first moved into the estate, the flowers in the garden gave me a terrible rash. Colton had every single one removed. Then Beth came home with no memory. Soon, the garden was filled with roses again. He'd forgotten why the flowers had disappeared in the first place. All he remembered was that there were roses in the garden. So he assumed I loved them too. His face darkened. He grabbed the roses and threw them into the trash. "How was I supposed to know if you didn't tell me? They're just flowers. There's nothing to be angry about." My chest tightened at his words. All the emotions I'd been trying to bury came rushing back. The doctor had warned me to stay calm after the procedure. Too much stress could cause severe bleeding. I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. There was no point in arguing with him. "Never mind. Do what you want." Still holding my stomach, I got up to go upstairs and accidentally knocked the box of chocolates off the table. It hit the floor, scattering chocolates everywhere. Colton's expression immediately darkened. "Was that necessary? Just because you don't like the roses I brought you, do you have to throw the chocolates on the floor too? Monica, I'm exhausted. Can you stop making trouble for me?" A chill spread through me. Even breathing hurt. His words finally pushed me over the edge. "You're exhausted because of Beth. What does that have to do with me?" I let out a bitter laugh and turned to leave. He caught my wrist. "So you're throwing this big of a fit over Beth?" Another cramp tore through my stomach. Sweat rolled down my face. I yanked my hand free, but my legs were too weak to hold me up. I sank back onto the couch. His expression shifted. The anger faded, replaced by a hint of concern. He opened his mouth to speak. Then the phone on the table rang. It was Beth. He answered, and I immediately heard Beth sobbing on the other end. "Darling, where are you? My stomach hurts so much." Colton frowned, his face tense with worry. "What happened? Don't be scared. I'm coming right now. I'll send a private doctor over before I get there. Don't move. "It's all right. Don't cry. I'm coming." He soothed her as he grabbed his suit jacket. Within seconds, he'd arranged everything for her. I grabbed the hem of his coat and forced the words out. "Can the doctor see me first? Beth's closer to the hospital. Have someone drive her there instead." Sweat soaked my back. My head spun, and every part of me hurt. He still had the phone pressed to his ear. He looked down at me, and for a moment, concern flickered in his eyes. Then Beth heard my voice. She started sobbing even harder. "My stomach hurts so much. I can't take it. Why does she have to make this hard for me right now? She knows I need a doctor more. Is she this jealous just because you're staying with me?" The concern vanished from Colton's face. His eyes turned cold. He pulled his coat from my grip. "I'll have someone drive you to the hospital. I'll come find you there once I've seen Beth." Then he rushed out without looking back. My nails dug into my palms as I curled up on the couch. It wasn't the first time he'd abandoned me for Beth. Sometimes she had a cold. Sometimes she needed to go to the hospital. There was always some reason. By now, I should have been used to it. I gritted my teeth, pulled out my phone, and called my assistant. Chapter 4 Miles, my assistant, arrived in less than half an hour and rushed me straight to the hospital. Once I was out of danger, Peter wiped his forehead. "Thank God you got here in time. Any later, and I don't even want to think about what could've happened." I lay in bed, feeling weak. An hour later, I checked my phone. Colton hadn't called once. The moment Beth needed him, I ceased to exist. He hadn't even remembered he'd promised to send a car. Whatever I still felt for him faded a little more. I pushed myself out of bed, but Miles quickly stepped in front of me. "Dr. Vance, what are you doing? You can't—" "Take me to the house outside the city," I said coldly. He didn't ask any questions. He simply drove me there. I'd bought the house years ago, planning to use it for weekend getaways with Colton. When Beth became ill, I offered to let her recover there. Colton visited her constantly. I never did. Because of her amnesia, Beth believed I was Colton's lover. Seeing me would only upset her and slow her recovery. So despite owning the place, I'd never stepped inside. When the car pulled up, every light in the house was on. Rows of roses bloomed across the yard. I walked to the door and knocked. My mother opened it. The smile vanished from her face the instant she saw me. Her entire body stiffened, and her lips turned pale. "What are you doing here?" I ignored her, pushed past her, and walked inside. Beth was lounging in a chair. Colton sat beside her, feeding her, while a dog rested at her feet. "Who is it?" Beth asked with a smile. Then she saw me. Her smile disappeared, and the color drained from her face. I slowly looked around the room. I barely recognized the place. Every piece of art I'd chosen for the house was gone. In their place were wedding photos of Colton and Beth. My breath caught. They had taken their wedding photos before Colton and I had even taken ours. Colton went pale. Even the hand holding the plate began to shake. "Why are you here?" Then his eyes swept over me, and his expression darkened. "So now you're pretending to be sick?" I ignored him and looked straight at Beth. Without thinking, she stepped behind Colton and covered her stomach with one hand. Colton immediately moved in front of her, shielding her from me with his arm. "Don't try anything. Come with me now, and I'll explain it to you." I looked at his arm shielding her and let out a bitter laugh. My mother stormed over, raising her voice. "What are you doing here?! If it weren't for you, they would've been together years ago! Beth would be the one living at the estate! They have a child now. I will not let you hurt my daughter or her baby!" Her words stopped me cold. She had always been like this. We were both her daughters, but she'd never loved us the same. Still, there was one reason I'd tolerated her all these years. When my father sold me to a casino, she sold our house to buy me back. She spent years afterward telling me she regretted it. But I had never forgotten that she'd saved me. I was still grateful. That was exactly why she'd known that faking her death would destroy me. She knew where I was weakest and used it against me without hesitation. Colton shot her a look and pulled her back. "Listen, the baby isn't what you think. Let's go home. I'll explain everything to you later." Beth's eyes reddened. Her voice trembled. "Monica, I know you're mad, but please listen to us. When I came back after the kidnapping, I was terrified. Colton stayed with me and comforted me. One night, we had too much to drink, and... it happened." She burst into tears. I almost laughed. So they'd been sleeping together since Beth was kidnapped six months ago. That night, Colton had taken the ransom money and gone to rescue her. I'd stayed home all night, too worried to sleep as I waited for them to return. They'd even slept together before coming home. Colton reached for my hand. "All right. Let's go home and talk." I shook him off. "Enough. What is there to talk about?" Colton swallowed his anger and forced himself to stay calm. "You have to give me time to handle this. Beth is pregnant now, so we don't need to adopt. She's your sister. The child is related to you by blood. What's wrong with that?" I burst out laughing. Related to me by blood? He'd gotten my sister pregnant, and now he expected me to raise their child. What a joke. "What are you laughing at?" Colton asked. My laughter stopped. I reached into my bag, pulled out my prenatal report, and held it up. "I'm pregnant too. So tell me, Colton. Do you want Beth's baby, or mine?" Chapter 5 Colton took the report, his eyes widening. For a split second, I saw pure joy on his face. He had always wanted a child even more than I did. Back when I couldn't get pregnant, he'd put his work on hold and personally taken me to one doctor after another. But every doctor gave us the same answer. There was nothing they could do. Beth stared at my stomach. "That's impossible! How could you be pregnant? That miscarriage left you unable to have children. Monica, don't joke about this." Her words seemed to snap Colton back to reality. His eyes narrowed, and his voice hardened. "Why would you test me like this? You know how badly I want a child. "Monica, how can you lie about this?!" I let out a cold laugh. I'd spent countless days at the hospital. Miles had come with me to every appointment. Colton had been too busy with Beth to notice any of it. If he'd paid even the slightest attention to me, he would've known I was pregnant. I'd taken countless pills and endured countless injections just to conceive. Some nights, the side effects were so painful I couldn't even sleep. But none of that mattered anymore. Beth walked over and took my hand. "Let it go. Don't be mad, Monica. I know you can't have children. After I have the baby, I'll leave the country and never come back." As she held my hand, something brushed against my fingers. Something hard. I looked down. A diamond ring gleamed on her finger. The moment I got a good look at it, my heart sank. It was my wedding ring. I'd commissioned a top designer to make it six months ago for my wedding to Colton. I'd even had the Turner family's vine pattern carved into the band. The ring I'd designed for myself was now sitting on my sister's finger. I gave a cold smile. "So the ring I asked you to pick up is already on her finger." Colton's expression darkened, but his answer was casual. "She's only trying it on for you. She'll give it back later. Why are you getting so upset over a ring?" Beth pressed her lips together, her eyes filling with tears. "I'm sorry, Monica. If I'd known such a small thing would upset you this much, I'd never have worn it. I'll give it back right now." She started pulling it off. Colton's face hardened. "That ring is mine too. I'll put it on whoever I want. Keep it on." Then he glanced at me and added casually, "You'll get it back later anyway." I took a breath. I felt sick. I'd designed that ring myself. I'd personally overseen every detail. But apparently, our wedding meant as little to him as the ring did. I walked over, grabbed Beth by the wrist, and yanked the ring off her finger. Then I turned to leave. Beth shrieked behind me. "What are you doing?! You're insane!" Colton looked ready to explode as he stormed after me. At the door, I hurled the ring toward the lake with all my strength. "That is my ring. I'd rather throw it away than let her have it." Beth panicked the moment she saw it fly. She rushed after it, shoving past me on her way out. I lost my balance and tumbled down the steps. Then Beth's foot slipped, and she fell after me. "Monica!" Colton shouted my name on instinct. A second later, he realized Beth had fallen too. Beth clutched her stomach, her face twisted in pain. "Whatever your problem is, take it out on me. Why humiliate me like this?" I'd hit the ground hard. Blood was already running down both my legs. Beth grabbed Colton's arm. "My stomach hurts." I tried to get up, but my body wouldn't move. I was about to speak when my mother rushed outside. She took one look at us and ran straight to Beth. "Take Beth to the hospital first. She's pregnant. Don't let anything happen to the baby. I'll handle things here." Colton looked at me. For a moment, he hesitated. Then whatever doubt he'd had disappeared. "Monica, wait here for me. I'll send a doctor. I'm taking Beth to the hospital first." With that, he picked Beth up and left. I bit down hard on my lip. The pain was so intense I could barely breathe. And just like always, Colton never looked back. My mother stood at the top of the steps. For a moment, she stared down at me without a trace of emotion. Once Colton's car disappeared from sight, she turned around without a word and shut the door in my face. I called Miles. He arrived as quickly as he could. "I'll take you to the hospital," he said. "Take me back to the estate. I don't need to go to the hospital." I knew my own body. And more than anything, I didn't want to see any of them again. Before we left, I looked back at the house one last time. "Sell it." "Yes." Back at the estate, I took some painkillers. Miles helped me pack while I rested. When I woke a little later, I checked my phone. Not a single call. Not a single message. I blocked Colton's number. Then Miles drove me to the airport. As the plane prepared for takeoff, I looked out at the city one last time. I thought I would never see any of them again.